What are the new requirements for roof racks under the 2021 traffic regulations?
3 Answers
Here are the relevant regulations for the new requirements of roof racks under the 2021 traffic regulations: 1. Heavy-duty vehicles: For heavy-duty and medium-duty trucks, as well as semi-trailers, the height of the cargo from the ground must not exceed 4 meters. For vehicles transporting containers, the height must not exceed 4.2 meters. 2. Motor vehicles: For other motor vehicles carrying cargo, the height from the ground must not exceed 2.5 meters. 3. Motorcycles: For motorcycles carrying cargo, the height from the ground must not exceed 1.5 meters, and the length must not exceed 0.2 meters beyond the body. The width of cargo on two-wheeled motorcycles must not exceed 0.15 meters on either side of the handlebars. For three-wheeled motorcycles, the width of the cargo must not exceed the width of the body. 4. Passenger vehicles: Passenger vehicles are not allowed to carry cargo except on external roof racks and built-in luggage compartments. For cargo carried on the roof rack of a passenger vehicle, the height from the roof must not exceed 0.5 meters, and the height from the ground must not exceed 4 meters.
I've reviewed the traffic regulations, and the 2021 new rules do have clear stipulations regarding roof racks. The maximum loading height must not exceed 50 centimeters from the roof, and the total vehicle height including luggage must not surpass 4 meters. The key point is that you can't casually install one yourself – factory-installed roof racks are fine, but aftermarket modifications must come with a compliance certificate issued by a legitimate manufacturer. Once I saw traffic police inspecting vehicles and they stopped an owner with an overly tall folding bike mounted on the roof, simply because the measured height exceeded the limit. Also, pay attention to secure fastening – having items fly off during emergency braking is no joke.
My family recently installed a roof rack on our SUV, and we specifically researched the new regulations. The key points are two 'don'ts': don't exceed the height limit and don't overload. The vertical height from your car roof must be kept within half a meter—roof tents, for example, can easily exceed this. Also, check your vehicle's registration for weight limits and never exceed them. Installation must use the factory-provided anchor points; some cars simply can't accommodate racks, and forcing it can be dangerous. As a side note, there are also requirements for the spacing between crossbars—too wide and your cargo can wobble. Before your trip, it's wise to take photos of the installation setup and keep them on your phone, just in case you need to prove compliance during an inspection.
